SSTI Digest

Complete descriptions of these opportunities and others are available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm. The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota, a nonprofit organization that represents Minnesota companies, academia and government, is seeking a bio-network specialist. This position will report to the BioBusiness Alliance CEO but will work in close partnership with the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation and other statewide constituents to support the growth of biobusiness in greater Minnesota. A bachelor’s degree is required; a master’s or Ph.D. degree is preferred.

Bill Bradley is the new executive director of the Jay County Development Corp. Bradley fills the vacancy left by the late Bob Quadrozzi. Traci Hancock was named executive director of BioNebraska. Peter Hermann was selected as the N.C. Technology Association's new CEO. Hermann replaces Joan Myers, who took a position with a software company. John McIver is serving as interim vice president for research and economic development at the University of New Mexico while the school searches for a permanent replacement to Terry Yates, who passed away in December. Gary Margules was appointed vice president for research and technology transfer at Nova Southeastern University.

Bill Bradley is the new executive director of the Jay County Development Corp. Bradley fills the vacancy left by the late Bob Quadrozzi.

Traci Hancock was named executive director of BioNebraska.

Peter Hermann was selected as the N.C. Technology Association's new CEO. Hermann replaces Joan Myers, who took a position with a software company.

John McIver is serving as interim vice president for research and economic development at the University of New Mexico while the school searches for a permanent replacement to Terry Yates, who passed away in December.

Gary Margules was appointed vice president for research and technology transfer at Nova Southeastern University.

New Carolina, South Carolina's Council on Competitiveness, has formed the South Carolina Engineering Cluster. Lee Stogner will lead the cluster and its steering committee, which represents government, economic develoment, academia, engineering companies and professional societies aiming to promote engineering in South Carolina.

Dr. James Weyhenmeyer will become senior vice president for the State University of New York (SUNY) Research Foundation and SUNY senior vice provost for research, effective March 3, 2008.

Facing a projected budget deficit of more than $600 million, Gov. Tim Kaine told lawmakers the state must invest more money in research and commercialization efforts to accelerate Virginia’s progress in key areas.   Anticipating the state’s investments in R&D will pay off in the future, Gov. Kaine unveiled a $1.65 billion bond package for higher education needs that includes support for researchers and research facilities aimed at R&D and commercialization. The governor’s fiscal year 2009-10 budget includes an additional $44.3 million for colleges and universities and continued funding for research across the state’s higher education institutes.

Building on a successful legislative session in 2007, Gov. Lingle is requesting additional funds to supplement various ongoing TBED programs.   Seeking to continue a pilot program approved by lawmakers last year, Gov. Lingle is requesting  $2 million for a second year for the Hawaii Excellence through Science and Technology Academy Program and Robotics Programs within the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (see the May 14, 2007 issue of the Digest).  

A long-delayed equity capital program in Montana is on its way to becoming a reality. Montana, which received no venture capital investment in 2006 according to the PricewaterhouseCoopers Moneytree survey, has struggled to attract the interest of venture capital firms. The Montana Equity Capital Investment Act, sponsored by State Sen. Jeff Mangan and signed by Gov. Brian Schweitzer in 2005, was intended to make the state more attractive to outside investors, but never seemed to get off the ground.   As reported in the April 18, 2005 issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest, Senate Bill 133 called for the creation of a $60 million Montana Equity Fund to attract out-of-state investment and increase in-state venture activity. A governor-appointed board was to contract with an outside investor group to capitalize and manage the Equity Fund and a subfund targeted toward investments in strategic industries. The $60 million would be issued in tax credits to investors to offset any shortfalls in scheduled returns on their investments.